One year ban for taking banned substance

Shane Warne is out of the remainder of the World Cup after he was today found guilty of taking a banned substance and suspended from playing cricket for 12 months by an anti-doping committee in Melbourne.

In a brief statement, an Australian Cricket Board spokesman told reporters: "The committee found the charge proved and imposed on player Shane Keith Warne the sanctions referred to in clause 7.1 ... for a period of 12 months from the date of the 10th of February."

"The ACB has the discretion to publish the committee's reasons," the spokesman said.

The three-person committee announced its decision to ban Warne shortly after 1pm today.

Warne was told of the decision at 11am this morning.

The hearing, held yesterday at the ACB's headquarters in Melbourne, began late because panellist Susan White was delayed in traffic. It adjourned twice and lasted eight hours.

The ACB called five witnesses. Warne's lawyers called two, believed to be the player and his mother Brigitte, who he has said gave him the offending diuretic pill in all innocence.

Warne was charged with "using a prohibited method", which carries a minimum two-year penalty.

Those sitting in judgement are Justice Glen Williams, of the Queensland Court of Appeal, White, a sports medicine expert, and Peter Taylor, a former Australian player.